On Monday, January 11, Town Hall hosted the quarterly meeting of Maplewood's Green Team, a major environmental initiative led by Fred Profeta, Maplewood's Deputy Mayor for the Environment. 

This second gathering of the entire team convened to provide status reports and updates from a full agenda of the group's efforts to make Maplewood a leading environmentally friendly community.

Maplewood is one of 250 New Jersey locales enlisted in "Sustainable Jersey," a program to help New Jersey municipalities meet sustainability standards and qualify for green grants and programs. Sustainable Jersey is the joint effort of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities and a host of other state agencies, including  the Mayors' Committee for a Green Future (MCGF), the mission of which is to "Make New Jersey green, one municipality at a time." (Profeta also serves as co-chair of the MCGF.) Towns that follow through successfully with the program's components have a chance for recognition at an annual awards ceremony.

"We really want to work with the ideas generated by the community," stated Profeta. "It's important that efforts towards sustainability become a regular part of our entire municipal structure."

Thirty-five committee members were in attendance Monday, working smoothly through a full agenda of green initiative updates.

Committee member Irene Savage is heading an effort to construct a 60' x 80' community garden adjacent to the greenhouses behind Town Hall. How to divide the garden, and what to charge are the issues being determined by the team at present. But she cited viable examples from which to borrow, such as the community garden at Winchester Gardens and a similar effort in Montclair.

Green Team member Kirk Soar updated the group on the formation of the South Orange/Maplewood Bicycle Coalition, the goal of which is  to get more folks pedaling. Under consideration is a local map that highlights good quality cycling roads, and the establishment of May 17-21 as "Bike to Work Week." 

Bob McCoy serves as chair of Maplewood's Environmental Advisory Committee and he addressed the floor about the need to promote New Jersey's Comfort Partners program, which installs energy-saving measures in homes of those significantly below the Federal poverty guidelines. Weather stripping, insulation, efficient light bulbs and plumbing fixtures can be made available at no cost to those who qualify.

Looking ahead, the group will continue to build on the success of Maplewood's annual Green Day Festival. Held each autumn, the event aims to inform the community about environmental issues and solutions . The 2009 Green Day, held October 10, marked the third annual festival and attracted over 100 exhibitors and 4,000 visitors. 

To get involved with the Green Team, watch the Green Day website for more information about the next committee meeting in late April, or send an email.